For some teams being 3-3 after six games of the season wouldn’t raise any eyebrows.

But the Lipscomb Lady Bisons 1-0 win Sunday afternoon at Central Arkansas in Conway was not only the third win of the season, but also marked the first time the Lady Bisons have won three games before the start of Atlantic Sun Conference play.

Andie Thornton scored the lone goal of the game at 49:58 in the second half. Meghan McGuire earned the assist.

“We figured one goal would end it and Andie made a great goal,” Lady Bisons coach Jon Ireland said. “Meghan played a great ball over the defense that just kept bouncing when it hit the ground. The goalie came out and Andie got to it before she did. Andie touched it by her from about 18 yards out.”

It was the only shot on goal for the Lady Bisons who attempted only four shots.

The Lady Bisons have won two games by 1-0 scores this season. Ireland expects a lot of similar decisions this season.

“Offensively, we have been hurting,” Ireland said. “We have so many injuries and people playing different positions.

“We are probably going to struggle offensively. But we have been in every game this year because of our defense. I really feel like if we can find a goal or two we are going to win a game based on how our defense is playing.”

Despite a small roster of healthy players Ireland has continued to use the high pressure strategy he learned this summer at North Carolina. Central Arkansas did not have a shot on goal with only eight shots overall.

“We are trying to play a high pressure system with very little depth because that gives us our best chance,” Ireland said. “There are times in a game where we don’t pressure like we need to because we are a little tired.

“I have told the girls we are going to stick with the high pressure. We forced a lot of turnovers against Central Arkansas because of our pressure. They kicked the ball out of bounds a lot and they kicked it right to us.”

With the exception of Friday night’s 2-0 loss at Arkansas State, Ireland’s team has outworked the opposition.

“We won the Central Arkansas game because of our pressure, because of our defending the way we defend and because of our work ethic,” Ireland said. “With the exception of Friday night we have outworked every team we have played this year.

“I tell them the only thing we have control over is our work ethic. We don’t have subs We have injuries. We can’t control those things, but we can control how hard we fight. That’s what I have been most proud of is the way they keep fighting and fighting.”